Alsa will make your kernel pretty big, and despite what the poster said, you can still compile it as a moudle. The alsasound init script probably won't work, but its not a biggie, just add the modules to your /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.[56]. Also add alsactl store to local.stop and alsactl restore to your local.start so that your volume settings get saved over a reboot.

Here's the sound part of my /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.[56] for reference:

Code:

snd-emu10k1
snd-pcm-oss

snd-emu10k1 is for my card, snd-pcm-oss turns on the oss compatability layer.
Note while I only have those two modules in my moudles.autoload file, they will load other modules, shown here in the relevant part of my lsmod ouput:

Here is my version of the alsavolume script for use with kernel 2.6 instead of alsasound. Basically it is just a cut down version of alsasound.

I added it to my default runlevel. This seemed a good place for it based on my fairly limited runlevel knowledge. If someone thinks it should go into a different runlevel let me know.

Code:

#!/sbin/runscript
# $Header: $
#
# Gentoo users: add this script to 'default' run level.
# ==================================================
#
# alsavolume This shell script takes care of restoring and storing
# the ALSA mixer sound settings.
#
# This script requires the /usr/sbin/alsactl program from the alsa-utils package.
#
# Paraphrased by Anthony Higgins from the alsasound init.d script
# Copyright (c) by Jaroslav Kysela <perex@suse.cz>
#
#
# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
# (at your option) any later version.
#
# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
# GNU General Public License for more details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA

Hmm after I had compiled my kernel (2.6.0_test1) and did emerge alsa-drivers it complains about something, I guess that The alsa that comes with 2.6.0_test1 is newer than the one in portage?_________________Make and Pray baby!

Yes. In ye old days, alsa had to install it's own kernel modules (drivers) since it was a separate package to the kernel. Now alsa is merged in with the kernel so you will no longer need the alsa-drivers.

Woot!! I've been waiting for years.

If it really wants to install alsa-drivers because of a dependancy you could fake it with the.. hmmm.. I think it's emerge -i alsa-drivers?? Check man emerge as I'm on a debian machine at the moment.

Two issues using kernel 2.6.0 + XMMS + ALSA (compiled in). alsa-xmms's ebuild needs alsa-driver (can I just inject?), and when I am using XMMS + ALSA for output, none of my visual plugins for XMMS react to the music, nor does the EQ work Any ideas?_________________Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... you can't fool me again

dunno whats up with you guys... I've always wanted to be able to build alsa into the kernel instead of as a module. I did that, and it works great... Though i still have alsa-driver installed for my 2.4 series kernel... anyway, why use the ebuild when it's right there in the kernel?

I have problem with permissions with ALSA built-in (and I'm sure with 2.5.something I had no problems).

Everything in /dev/sound and /dev/snd misses rw permissions for the audio group so only root is able to use it. After a massive chmod 660 also users member of audio are ok but I haven't found a way to set the permissions automatically (short a chmod script starting at boot).

As modules ALSA works like it did with 2.4.21._________________I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.

I'm using XMMS for mp3 playback, but without xmms-alsa emerged (which needs alsa-driver, which I don't really want to have if the kernel has alsa anyway) I can't get any audio out. Grip won't play CDs (?), but Xine will (using gxine). Xmms won't play either. Agh.

It boils down to... do I need alsa-driver emerged or can I just inject it? (I can live without XMMS for mp3/audio playback)._________________Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... you can't fool me again

I have problem with permissions with ALSA built-in (and I'm sure with 2.5.something I had no problems).

Everything in /dev/sound and /dev/snd misses rw permissions for the audio group so only root is able to use it. After a massive chmod 660 also users member of audio are ok but I haven't found a way to set the permissions automatically (short a chmod script starting at boot).

As modules ALSA works like it did with 2.4.21.

Have a look in /etc/security/console.perms you might need to change the line